The Operating Theatre Journal November 2020

New insight into neovessel formation
shows promise in future treatment
of cardiovascular diseases
A new study by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland provides
novel insight into the previously unknown effects of factors regulating
blood vessel formation. In the study, bone morphogenetic factor 6,
i.e. BMP6, was shown – for the first time - to regulate blood vessel
formation via vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)
and Hippo signalling pathway. The findings can be used in developing
treatments for cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the Western
world. In many of these diseases, blood circulation is decreased due
to narrowed blood vessels, leading to inadequate tissue perfusion
and oxygen deprivation. The formation of new blood vessels offers a
novel treatment option for these diseases. The development of this
treatment requires a thorough understanding of cellular signalling
mechanisms that regulate neovessel formation.
Bone morphogenetic proteins, BMPs, are growth factors originally
discovered as regulators in bone formation. Later on, their regulatory
role on the development and maintenance of a wide range of tissues
has become apparent. BMPs have a vital role in the development of the
cardiovascular system. In addition, BMPs have been shown to regulate
This is Chelsea’s story.
blood vessel formation but their exact mechanisms are unknown.
Crosstalk of BMP-signalling with a well-known blood vessel formation
regulator, VEGF, and its downstream effectors is poorly understood.
8 Years This ago Chelsea is lost her Chelsea’s boyfriend in a tragic motorcycle Story
accident. 8 Years She ago chose Chelsea to use lost her grief boyfriend as a driving in force to pursue
The new study now shows that VEGF gene transfer or oxygen deprivation
of the tissue induce the expression of BMPs. Bone morphogenetic factor
nursing a tragic in an motorcycle attempt to accident. support others She chose as the nurses at Royal
to use her grief as a driving force to
6 ligand was further demonstrated, for the first time, to regulate blood
London pursue had nursing done for in her. an attempt She finally to support registered as a nurse after
vessel formation. BMP6 was shown to act in endothelial cells via VEGFR2
studying others at as the the University nurses at of Royal Essex London the had 7 and Hippo signalling pathways by inducing nuclear localization of Hippo
done for her. She finally This registered is as Chelsea’s th anniversary of her
signalling pathway mediator TAZ. Hippo signalling has an important role
loss, with her partner tightly holding her hand.
a story.
nurse after studying at the University
in tissue size control and cell proliferation, and its malfunction has
of Essex on the 7th anniversary been associated with cancer.
8 Years ago
of
Chelsea
her
lost her boyfriend in a tragic motorcycle
g career loss, in ICU with at the her Homerton partner tightly Hospital. holding Within her 6 months of
accident. She chose to use her grief as a driving force to pursue The findings from this research improve our understanding of
e she was hand. thrown in the deep end nursing and in worked an attempt in ICU to support throughout others as the nurses at Royal multifactorial communication of cell signalling pathways in blood vessel
emic. Throughout She began this her period nursing she career London shared in had ICU her done at personal for her. She experiences
finally registered as a nurse formation. after The discoveries related to BMP6 and Hippo signalling can
the Homerton Hospital. Within 6 months
be used in the development of novel treatments for cardiovascular
ucate people about the struggles studying being at faced the University whilst dealing of Essex on with the the 7 anniversary of her
of completing her degree diseases.
loss, with
she
her
was
partner tightly holding her hand.
g days imaginable. thrown in the deep end and worked in
ICU throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
The study, openly accessible in Angiogenesis, was carried out in the
She began her nursing career in ICU at the Homerton Hospital. Within 6 months of Vascular Biology junior research group of Academy Research Fellow,
she never Throughout lost completing her care this her and period degree compassion she was shared thrown for her in others. personal deep There end experiences and are worked so on in ICU social throughout Adjunct Professor Johanna Laakkonen at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for
s that have media been the to coronavirus shared educate about pandemic. people how about Throughout she the supported struggles this period being others. she shared faced When whilst her a personal dealing experiences Molecular Sciences. The main authors of the article, Heidi Pulkkinen,
with the most difficult working days imaginable.
MSc, and Miika Kiema, MSc, are Early Stage Researchers in the Doctoral
d with terminal on social cancer media his to partner educate people locked about herself the struggles in the toilet; being faced whilst dealing with the
Programme of Molecular Medicine at UEF. Understanding how the
Even
most
throughout
difficult working
this she
days
never
imaginable.
door and joined her to comfort her. She lost was her care constantly and compassion checking for up others.
cell types interact in vascular diseases is one of the central research
There are so many fantastic stories that have been shared about how
that had interests of the Laakkonen junior research group. The group’s goal is to
she been Even
supported transferred throughout this
others. to another she never
When a ward, lost her
patient even care and
was coming compassion
diagnosed into for work others. There are so
with terminal
implement these discoveries for improved treatment and diagnosis of
there as cancer they many were his fantastic partner discharged stories locked that back herself have home. been in shared the toilet; about how Chelsea she supported unlocked others. When a
cardiovascular diseases.
door patient and joined was diagnosed her to with comfort terminal her. cancer She his was partner constantly locked herself checking the up toilet;
on previous Chelsea unlocked patients the that door had and been joined transferred her to comfort to her. another She was ward, constantly even checking The up
ospital and moved on to ICU at the Royal London to be able offer
newly published study is supported by the Academy of Finland, the
coming on previous into work patients on her that days had been off to transferred be there to as another they ward, were even discharged coming into European work Research Council, Sigrid Juselius Foundation and the Finnish
d compassion back on home. in her the days place off to that be there her as life they had were been discharged changed back by home. the
Foundation for Cardiovascular Research. The article is part of a project
rking in the that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020
She hardest left Homerton days of Hospital her life. and Unfortunately moved on to we ICU were at the unable Royal to London
She left Homerton Hospital and moved on to ICU at the Royal London to be able offer research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie
e things that to be she able was offer capable kindness, of achieving support and there compassion 3 weeks in the after place that her
grant agreement.
life
kindness,
had been
support
changed
and
by
compassion
the incredible
in the place
nurses
that
working
her life had
in
been
the hardest
changed by the
b Chelsea died
days incredible in a tragic
of her life. nurses motorcycle
Unfortunately working in the accident.
we hardest were days unable of her to life. witness Unfortunately the incredible we were unable to
Research article:
things witness that the she incredible was capable things of that achieving she was capable there as of 3 achieving weeks after there starting as 3 weeks after
and family
Pulkkinen HH, Kiema M, Lappalainen JP, Toropainen A, Beter M,
her are starting dream trying her job to dream Chelsea follow job in died Chelsea her in path. died a tragic in She a tragic advocated motorcycle for accident. organ
Tirronen A, Holappa L, Niskanen H, Kaikkonen MU, Ylä-Herttuala S,
nd donated Her to partner, three air friends ambulance and family charities. are trying As a to result follow a in her path. She Laakkonen JP. BMP6/TAZ-Hippo signaling modulates angiogenesis and
Her partner, friends and family are trying to follow in her path. She advocated for organ
has been advocated created to for raise organ much and needed blood donation funds for and the donated Air to three air endothelial cell response to VEGF. Angiogenesis. 2020 Oct 6. doi:
and blood donation and donated to three air ambulance charities. As a result a
ambulance charities. As a result a fundraising campaign has been 10.1007/s10456-020-09748-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33021694.
fundraising campaign has been created to raise much needed funds for the Air
created to raise much needed funds for the Air Ambulance.
Ambulance.
We urge We you urge to you continue to continue to live to live by Chelsea’s by Chelsea’s legacy.
Remember We the urge impact you to continue that you to live by Chelsea’s
legacy. Remember the impact can have that
legacy. on you
Remember someone’s can
the lives impact that you can
have on someone’s lives when have they on someone’s come
through lives when they come
your
through
doors.
your
The
doors.
kindness
through your doors. The kindness and The kindness and
and compassion that you
compassion that you show compassion that you show daily can
show daily daily can can completely
change someone’s path
and provide some solace in
their darkest of days.
many fantastic stories that have been shared about how she supported others. Wh
are There others. for compassion and care her lost never she this throughout Even
Chelsea unlocked the door and joined her to comfort her. She was constantly check
toilet; the in herself locked partner his cancer terminal with diagnosed was patient
on her days off to be there as they were discharged back home.
into
coming even ward, another to transferred been had that patients previous on
This is Chelsea’s story.
accident. She chose to use her grief as a driving force to p
motorcyc
tragic a in boyfriend her lost Chelsea ago Years 8
London had done for her. She finally registered as a nurse
R at nurses the as others support to attempt an in nursing
loss, with her partner tightly holding her hand.
anniversary o
7th
the on Essex of University the at studying
completing her degree she was thrown in the deep end and worked in ICU through
of months 6 Within Hospital. Homerton the at ICU in career nursing her began She
on social media to educate people about the struggles being faced whilst dealing w
experie
personal her shared she period this Throughout pandemic. coronavirus the
most difficult working days imaginable.
She left Homerton Hospital and moved on to ICU at the Royal London to be able of
kindness, support and compassion in the place that her life had been changed by th
witness the incredible things that she was capable of achieving there as 3 weeks aft
un were we Unfortunately life. her of days hardest the in working nurses incredible
starting her dream job Chelsea died in a tragic motorcycle accident.
and blood donation and donated to three air ambulance charities. As a result a
o for advocated She path. her in follow to trying are family and friends partner, Her
Ambulance.
has been created to raise much needed funds for the Air
campaign fundraising
legacy. Remember the impact that you can
Chelsea’s
by live to continue to you urge We
through your doors. The kindness and
come they when lives someone’s on have
compassion that you show daily can
14 THE OPERATING THEATRE JOURNAL www.otjonline.com